GOUVERNEUR  The school district has taken on a new task: to develop a strategic plan to improve communication among schools and the community, boost the use of technology in schools and foster partnerships with colleges and industries in the community.

Its a three- to five-year plan to address issues such as communication, curriculum, staff development, technology and partnerships, said Lauren F. French, superintendent of the Gouverneur Central School District.

The idea for a strategic plan originated with the schools new administration team.

With new faces in leadership positions, Mrs. French said, the district wants to be respectful of the history of Gouverneur and how things have been done in the past, but also wants to see new ideas, initiatives and technology be incorporated in the future.

The schools recently held a jump-start activity, for which they invited community members and officials, teachers, parents, students and school officials to participate in an open discussion to express ideas, determine any issues and brainstorm for solutions that could all be incorporated as focus areas in the final writing of the strategic plan.

Mrs. French said 90 ideas were developed at the jump-start meeting that the Strategic Planning Committee will incorporate into the strategic plan.

She said a sub-group of those who attended the meeting met Tuesday to organize the 90 ideas into 17 categories within the strategic plan.

Some of the ideas for the schools included establishing partnerships with Northern New York industries and businesses as well as with Jefferson Community College.

Mrs. French said one of the ideas, to achieve a lifelong learning community, was given the name A Diploma for All Students, which will include reaching out to dropout students and trying to get them to return to school to get their diplomas.

One of the guiding umbrellas for the community is communication, Mrs. French said. This will broaden the communication between schools and the community.

Mrs. French said the 17 categories of ideas will be posted on the Gouverneur Central School District website for the community to review and provide feedback.

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